Ian Page, Sophie Bevan & The Mozartists - Perfido! (2017)

Tracklist
---------
01. Scena Di Berenice, Hob.Xxiva:10: "Berenice, Che Fai?" (Version I)
02. Scena Di Berenice, Hob.Xxiva:10: "Berenice, Che Fai?" (Version II)
03. Scena Di Berenice, Hob.Xxiva:10: "Non Partir, Bell'Idol Mio"
04. Scena Di Berenice, Hob.Xxiva:10: "Me Infelice! Che Fingo?"
05. Scena Di Berenice, Hob.Xxiva:10: "Perche, Se Tanti Siete"
06. Oh, temerario Arbace... Per quel paterno amplesso, K.79: "Oh, temerario Arbace!"
07. Oh, temerario Arbace... Per quel paterno amplesso, K.79: "Per quel paterno amplesso"
08. No, non turbati... Ma tu tremi, o mio tesoro? WoO 92a: "No, non turbati, o Nice"
09. No, non turbati... Ma tu tremi, o mio tesoro? WoO 92a: "Ma tu tremi, o mio tesoro?"
10. Basta, vincesti, K.486a/295a: "Basta, vincesti, eccoti il foglio"
11. Basta, vincesti, K.486a/295a: "Ah non lasciarmi, no"
12. Solo E Pensoso, Hob.Xxivb:20
13. Ah, lo previdi, K.272: "Ah, lo previdi!"
14. Ah, lo previdi, K.272: "Ah, t'invola agl'occhi miei"
15. Ah, lo previdi, K.272: "Misera! In van m'adiro"
16. Ah, lo previdi, K.272: "Deh, non varcar quell'onda"
17. Bella mia fiamma, K.528: "Bella mia fiamma, addio"
18. Bella mia fiamma, K.528: "Resta, o cara"
19. Ah! perfido, Op. 65: "Ah! perfido"
20. Ah! perfido, Op. 65: "Per pieta, non dirmi addio"
21. Ah! perfido, Op. 65: "Ah crudel! tu vuoi ch'io mora"


Leading British soprano Sophie Bevan performs a sumptuous programme of concert arias by Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven. Bevan is accompanied on this new recording by The Mozartists, recently launched by Ian Page's internationally renowned period ensemble Classical Opera as an expansion of its continuing exploration of Mozart and his contemporaries. Complementing Classical Opera's ongoing recording series of complete operas of Mozart, the creation of The Mozartists reflects the group's expanding repertoire and ambitious plans, and they can be heard in concert from September, 2017.

Bevan has emerged as one of the leading Mozart singers of her generation, and in recent years she has performed the roles of Ilia (Idomeneo), Susanna (Le nozze di Figaro) and Pamina (Die Zauberflöte) at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. She has worked with Ian Page and Classical Opera every year since 2005, and her previous recordings with the company have included ‘Blessed Spirit’ – a Gluck retrospective (Wigmore Hall Live) and roles in several of their ongoing complete cycle of Mozart operas on Signum Classics – Hyacinthus (Apollo et Hyacinthus), Der Weltgeist (Die Schuldigkeit des ersten Gebots), Sifare (Mitridate, re di Ponto) and most recently the title role in Zaide.

The programme of ‘Perfido!’ was devised by Ian Page and comprises concert arias by the three greatest composers of the classical era. It begins with Haydn’s magnificent Scena di Berenice, composed in London in 1795 for the celebrated dramatic soprano Brigida Giorgi Banti, and culminates with the three great arias composed for the famous Czech soprano Josefa Dušek – Mozart’s “Ah, lo previdi” and “Bella mia fiamma” and Beethoven’s “Ah! perfido”. Other featured arias include Mozart’s “Oh, temerario Arbace”, composed when he was just ten years old, and Beethoven’s “No, non turbati”, created as part of the composer’s studies in Vienna with Antonio Salieri.

„There is compelling synergy between dramatically aware orchestral playing and Bevan’s marvellous singing in Zaide…“ (Gramophone)

“Bevan has made her reputation with her pure lyric soprano, but it's interesting to hear a bit of attractive smoke to the tone these days. Her voice is perhaps on the light side for these arias, but her partnership with Ian Page, who conducts, pays dividends as they sail confidently through the heavier perils of these dramatic pieces…an interesting disc of lesser-performed arias dispatched with freshness and style” (Opera Now)

Hi-Res version

DOWNLOAD ALBUM [flac]